A Son’s LoveA Son’s Love  “It was Darl. He come to the door and stood there, looking at his dying mother. He just looked at her, and I felt the bounteous love of the Lord again and His mercy. I saw that with Jewel she had just been pretending, but that it was between her and Darl that the understand and the true love was. He just looked at her, not even coming in where she could see him and get upset, knowing that Anse was driving him away and he would never see her again. He said nothing, just looking at her… He just stood and looked at his dying mother, his heart too full for words.” 24-25

Barn BurningBarn Burning  “And I saw something Dewey Dell told me not to tell nobody. It is not about pa and it is not about Cash and it is not about Jewel and it is not about Dewey Dell and it is not about me.”  Which cognitive technique is Vardaman using here that we’ve seen him use before?  What is Vardaman telling us?  “You must be ready to burn yourself in your own flame; How could you become new if you haven’t first become ashes?” – Friedrich Nietzsche  “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you…” Friedrich Nietzsche

Darl’s MadnessDarl’s Madness “She wants Him to hide her away from the sight of man.” Darl says. “Why does she want to hide her away from the sight of man, Darl?” “So she can lay down her life,” Darl says. “People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own souls.” Carl Jung Do you think Darl is facing his own soul? By focusing on Jewel, is he perhaps diverting his attention away from himself, or is he, in fact, confronting it? Provide evidence for your ideas.

Addie’s SoulAddie’s Soul  Does faith play a large role in the lives of the Bundrens? There are references to God [The Lord giveth] But, does religion provide any solace or guidance for them?  Where do the Bundrens think Addie’s soul will go? Are they concerned with her afterlife?  Darl seems to be the most obviously existential, but can we extend this to other characters?  With Addie’s death, the characters find replacements for her that are meant to carry them through life. Little is done for the sake of Addie’s soul.